Grapefruit – An Oversize Orange? Better.

Grapefruit, with the scientific name of Citrus maxima (Burm)
Merr., is a citrus tree of Rutidido. It
is also being known as Pomelo. The tree’s
tender branches, the back of the leaves, the pedicels, the calyx and the ovary
are cover to a layer of soft fur. The young leaves are usually dark purple red
in color, and the twigs are flat and prismatic. The leave is relatively thicker,
dark green in color, broadly ovate or elliptic in shape. Flower bud is purple
red in color, with a thin brand of milky white. The fruit is round, oblate, pear in shape;
sometime it is broad cone in shape. The fruit has a size with a transverse
diameter of 10 cm or more. There could
be 200 grains of seeds in it but subspecies maybe without seeds. The shape of
the seed is irregular, usually nearly rectangular, and cotyledons are milky
white and single embryo. The flowering
period is in April and May while the fruiting period is September to December
months.

Besides the western countries, the plants usually grow at
the south of Yangtze River in China, in the areas of Xinyang and Nanyang, Henan
province. It is found in the countries in Southeast Asia.

It is found that its vitamin C and calcium content are much
higher compare to many other fruits. Vitamin C is 3 times higher than lemon and
orange and the calcium content is even 10 times higher than apple, pear, banana
and many other fruits.

Some of the major benefits from grapefruits are:

As 1 of the best fruits for cardiovascular and
kidney disease patients

Contains natural insulin which help to lower
blood pressure and cholesterol and further prevent stroke

It also can help to lower the blood sugar thus
it is good for diabetic patients

With its high contain in vitamin C and B complex,
it helps in body slimming. This is
burning the body and reduce one’s urge to eat more.

It also can help in restoring skin tissue and
strengthen skin pores

With its high content of nutrients, it is said
to be able to prevent stomach and intestine cancer.

Though with so many goodness, pregnant mother should avoid
eating this too much due to its cooling effect.